Last week, Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology were welcomed to Colorado by Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) to visit some of the many research and technology facilities in the Denver area. Members visited Lockheed Martin Space, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Ball Aerospace, University of Colorado Boulder, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Advanced Space, and Sierra Space. The Members also participated in a roundtable with state and local representatives, emergency management officials, Governor Polis, and individuals from NOAA and NWS to discuss the recent Marshall Fire. After the roundtable, Members toured the fire damage in Old Towne Superior.
“Colorado has an incredible ecosystem of federal labs, aerospace companies, research universities and K-12 schools that together provide a top-notch environment for new ideas and technology to flourish,” said Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) “I was proud to show off these incredible assets to my colleagues on the House Science Committee, and I look forward to taking the lessons learned this week back to Congress to develop policies that continue to support innovation here in Colorado and across the country.”
“It was a privilege to visit with some of the finest minds in the country in the areas of aerospace and climate science, and to see the actionable results that are the outcome of federal investment,” said Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-NM). “The Front Range/Denver/Boulder area of Colorado has a large intellectual base to carry out critical programs and is creating a base of new scientists and engineers to meet the growing demand in these areas.”
“This trip has strongly emphasized the value of federally-funded research and the vibrancy of the Colorado tech cluster,” said Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL). “From the exciting advancements demonstrated at our federal facilities, to the great work being done by our partners in industry, it is clear that American taxpayers are getting a tremendous return on investment.”
“From space exploration and tech innovation to climate and disaster preparedness, I was profoundly impressed with the developments taking place in Colorado’s federal labs and research facilities,” said Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO). “The dedicated individuals we had the opportunity to meet this week are working on technology innovation in clean energy, climate solutions, weather forecasting, first responder communications and so much more. After this week, I am more hopeful than ever that we will be able to procure a safe and sustainable future.”
“Speaking to leading experts on aspects of climate change and technology is crucial if we’re going to make informed policy to address the global climate crisis,” said Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ) “Seeing the damage caused by wildfires firsthand drove home the importance of investing in clean energy sources, like the offshore wind sector we’re working hard to develop in South Jersey.”
